The Stony Brook women’s basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the coaches’ preseason poll this year, an expectation it hopes to surpass with four returning starters. The team is coming off their first semifinal experience in the America East Conference tournament since 2006 and a fourth place finish in the regular season.

Senior Kirsten Jeter highlights the returning players on the team, as she was a unanimous choice in the preseason All-Conference team, named by the coaches’ poll. Jeter ranked sixth in scoring and fourth in rebounding in the America East.

Senior Misha Horsey also returns coming off a league leading 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Head coach Michelle Cherry, who has coaching experience in the WNBA, feels that the two players will be key in which direction the team will head this upcoming season.

“Horsey and Jeter are going to lead the way for us,” she said. “The experience is really going to help.”

Coach Cherry said that this was the first year that she had a fully experienced team and also emphasized the return of senior guard Jodie Plikus, who she called their best shooter, and transfers who are coming in.

With the combination of Plikus and the new transfers, Coach Cherry believes that there will be pressure off Jeter, and there will be more options to score for more consistency on offense.

Defense has always been the strength of the team, but it would like to improve on giving up almost 65 points per game.

Vermont, last year’s American East champion, is not expected to contend with no returning starters on the team. They have been among the best programs in the conference, and its rebuilding process paves the way for schools like Boston University, Binghamton, Hartford and Stony Brook.

“On any given night this is a tough conference,” Coach Cherry said. “You definitely have to bring your A game; there’s no guaranteed win.”

Stony Brook is one of four teams in the division that has not won a conference tournament title. And with Jeter, Horsey and Plikus, all seniors and graduating, it may seem as if this is the team’s best shot for a title. However, the team consists of seven sophomores and one freshman, most with game-time experience. Stony Brook hopes that the combination of youth and experience can mix well in the upcoming season.

Stony Brook’s first game is in North Carolina as they face off against Troy in the Phoenix Classic on Nov. 12. The Seawolves will hold their home opener six days later against Hofstra.

Volleyball is fighting to hold fourth place in the conference and the final playoff spot.

The Stony Brook volleyball team won the first game of a three-game homestand on Friday, making it three wins on its home court this season. The victory against New Hampshire, 3-0 (25-11, 25-22, 26-24), improved the Seawolves record to 4-4 in the American East Conference and 9-15 overall this year.

Junior Alicia Nelson led the Seawolves with 15 kills while senior Jeanette Gibbs and sophomore Greta Strenger combined for 27 digs on defense.

A kill by Nelson jumpstarted Stony Brook to a quick 3-0 lead, only to lose that lead from an error by junior Kelsey Sullivan. The Seawolves regained the lead with a 5-0 run, 14-8, which was capped by a kill from Strenger. Stony brook blew it open 18-10 which resulted in a New Hampshire timeout. However the break only benefited the Seawolves as a 6-0 run late in the first set gave them the 1-0 advantage.

After a dominating first set, Stony Brook stumbled upon some trouble with an early four point deficit in the second set. However, a five point spurt gave them the lead, 8-6, as freshman Hailee Herc blocked a New Hampshire attack. After a timeout, a service ace from senior middle blocker Ashley Headen widened the lead to four. Stony Brook led as much as seven until New Hampshire rallied late in the set to close within 1.  However sophomore Corrine Perry’s service ace sealed the set for a 2-0 advantage for Stony Brook.

The third set was a close match, as neither team was able to run away with a lead. Stony brook was down, 23-24, but a kill by Headen tied the game and extended the set. After going up 25-24, a service ace by Headen closed out the game as the Seawolves swept New Hampshire.

After Sunday’s game against Providence, Stony Brook closes out their home stand to UMBC. If the season were to end today, fourth place Stony Brook would move on to the American East Conference Tournament.

The Stony Brook volleyball team swept UMBC on Friday in three sets to improve to 2-1 in conference play and 7-12 overall.

The 3-0(25-22, 27-25, 25-21) victory put the Seawolves third in the American East standings behind Albany and New Hampshire.

Junior Alicia Nelson had a game high 18 kills to once again lead Stony Brook. Coming off an impressive week when she won player of the week honors, Nelson notched double digit kills for the ninth time in ten games this year. Senior Jeanette Gibbs posted a team high 11 digs while freshman Hailee Herc contributed 9 kills and 9 digs.

It was a close set to begin the game, as there were 5 ties in the first set as well as 3 lead changes. Stony Brook got off to a quick 5-1 start, but they lost the lead midway through the set at 14-13 due to errors. However, with the score tied at 22, the Seawolves closed out the set with three straight points for an early 1-0 advantage.

As tight as set one was, the second set was even closer. Stony Brook once again got off to a quick five-point lead, only to give it up late in the set at 18-17. UMBC eventually led, 24-22, with a chance to close out the set. However, the Seawolves rallied to win the set 27-25 thanks to a kill from senior Ashley Headen and a UMBC error.

No team in the third set took more than a two point lead until late on, when Stony Brook led by four. Herc tallied her ninth kill of the game to close out the set and the game.  The game was Stony Brook’s third road win of the year.

After the three game-road trip, the Seawolves return home this weekend to host first place Albany on Saturday.

The Stony Brook volleyball team can head into conference play with confidence after a come-from-behind win against Long Island University on Tuesday. The team rallied in a 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 12-25, 25-22, 15-7) victory.

The Seawolves (5-11) halted a four-game losing streak as they prepare for a three-game road trip. Junior Alicia Nelson led the team with 16 kills while freshman Evan Slaughter contributed 8 kills and 4 blocks. Jeanette Gibbs, one of two seniors on the roster this year, had a team high 16 digs on defense.

After jumping off to a strong seven-point lead in the first set, Stony Brook gave up the lead on an LIU run late in the set. However, the Seawolves closed out the set by winning four of the next five points.

Stony Brook kept it close in set two before eventually falling 25-20.

The third set was a different story as LIU dominated en route to a 25-12 victory.  LIU hit .542 during the set.

After being dominated in set three, the Seawolves bounced back late in the fourth set after being down by one, 18-17. But a kill from junior Kelsey Sullivan and an ace from freshman Masa Balandzic fueled a Seawolves rally to win the set. In the set, the Seawolves hit .342 while holding their opponent to an attacking percentage of just .108.

Thanks to a couple of runs, Stony Brook closed out the set and game with a 15-7 win.

Friday will be the start of conference play for Stony Brook against Providence.

The Stony Brook tennis team got off to a solid start to the new year with a doubles win in the annual Stony Brook Classic. The tournament was hosted by the Seawolves as they welcomed tennis programs such as Army, Navy and Radford.

The three-day tournament was highlighted by the win on Friday by junior Salome Mkervalidze and sophomore Aylin Mehter. After a first round bye, the pair won four matches to win the Flight B tournament over Erin Colton and Jamila Paul of Army,  8-2. On their road to victory was a semifinal win over Vollmer/ Saavedra of Army.

The other Stony Brook duo in Flight B, sophomore Nini Lagvilava and senior Gayatri Krishnan, almost made an all Stony Brook final but fell short against Colton and Paul, 8-3, in the semifinals. However, the pairing did beat Liden/Msmcdonald of NJIT in dominating fashion, leaving their opponent without a game en route to an 8-0 win.

But while the Flight B side of the classic proved successful for the Seawolves, Flight A was not as favorable.  Junior Katherine Hanson and Chloe Pike took a commanding lead in the opening round, 5-0, and eventually held on to win their match 8-4. However, this was the only win for the two doubles teams for Stony Brook in that flight. Hanson and Chloe fell in the second round to Army while junior Prerana Appineni and senior Fanny Charliquart were eliminated in the second round, 8-4, after their first round bye.

Day two was the singles portion of the weekend tournament, with no winners from Stony Brook. However, three Stony Brook players did advance to the semifinals.

Lagvilava lost a close, hard-fought game to Anne Houghton of Army, 9-7.Krishnan also advanced to the semifinals before losing to eventual champion of Flight C, Margaret lliev, by the score of 8-6. In Flight D, Pike lost to Ferhatbegovic  in the semis, 8-5. Ferhatbegovic also turned out to be the eventual winner. In other singles action, Charliquart, Mkervalidze and Hanson all reached the quarterfinals in their respective flights.

After a successful weekend, Stony Brook tennis will head on to play in the Eastern Collegiate Tournament and the ITA Regionals before conference play begins. Last year, the team posted a 17-5 record, led by American East Rookie of the Year Lagvilava and First-team All-Conference Mehter. The 17 wins was a program record, and the two sophomores will now look to lead the team again in 2010.

Head coach Glassman said this upcoming season will be “exciting” but “busy”, and if the team fulfills expectations, it should be another banner season for the Seawolves.

It took seven tries, but Stony Brook finally secured a victory on Saturday against Quinnipiac for its first win of the season, 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-20). The Seawolves (1-6) came back to sweep their opponents just hours after losing to Rhode Island.

Senior Ashley Headen and junior Alicia Nelson combined for 36 kills to overpower Quinnipiac in the final game of the Yale Invitational, ending the trip on a high note. Senior Jeanette Gibbs led the Seawolves with 16 digs while junior setter Kelsey Sullivan added 21 assists. Freshman Masa Balandzic contributed 5 aces.

The Seawolves’  inconsistency was a big factor in losing six consecutive games. They often had fast starts only to eventually lose the game. However, the Seawolves kept the momentum after jumping off to a good start against Quinnipiac.

In the first set, Stony Brook led 16-6, but Quinnipiac closed the gap to two late in the set. This seemed like the same story again for Stony Brook, but the team maintained composure to close out the first set with five straight points to go up 1-0 in the game. Balandzic served three aces during the five-point span.

In set two, Stony Brook grabbed a 17-11 lead, but Quinnipiac took a one-point lead after a seven-point run. However, the Seawolves bounced right back with the combination of strong play from freshman Kaitlin Costello and Quinnipiac’s unforced errors. They took the set for a 2-0 lead.

Stony Brook opened the third set with a 6-1 run, only to see that lead dwindle down to one, 16-15. But the Seawolves went on another 8-1 run to eventually close out the set and win the game, 3-0.

The Seawolves have to feel as if the monkey is off their back in winning their first game of the season. Now they can look ahead and concentrate on improving their record as conference play draws nearer.

Next up for the Seawolves will be a game in the Bronx, where they face Rider in the Fordham Invitational Sept. 10. This will be the beginning of four games in the span of two days.

The women’s volleyball team continued its slow start to the season, losing to St. Johns (4-1) in straight sets, 25-17, 25-19, and 25-19.

Junior Alicia Nelson led Stony Brook with 8 kills, while senior Ashley Headen contributed 7 kills. Sophomore setter Corrine Perry led the team in assists, with 17.

With the loss the Seawolves fall to 0-4.  

Poor starts to the sets were key factors in the loss, as Stony Brook was forced to try to come from behind.  

In the first set, Stony Brook was down 12-5 early, and while small rallies put them back in the game, it wasn’t enough to come out on top. The Seawolves eventually lost the set, 25-17.

The second set was no different, as the Seawolves were down early, 10-5. At one point, Stony Brook cut the lead to two but eventually fell to the Red Storm, 25-19.

Overall, consistency seemed to be the problem for the Seawolves. Playing at a high level during one period of time and poorly at another had them playing catch-up throughout the match.

The Seawolves will look to improve on the winless record Sept. 3 when they visit New Haven to kickoff the Yale Invitational.

Conference games start Sept. 19, where Stony Brook hopes to take advantage of the softer part of its schedule.

Coming off a competitive year, the “Black Widows” are looking to improve even more in the upcoming women’s rugby season. 

A division title is well within reach for the program that has been on the rise since its inception.  Over the past 20 years, the program has become more competitive as rugby has become an increasingly popular sport.  

Once just a club that lacked funds to compete, the Black Widows are now seen as a successful team recognized by the university. Although still technically a club, head coach Steve Galaris knows that his rugby team is more that.  “We’ve assimilated to the university because they’ve been so generous to us,” he said. 

Galaris, who has been with the team for seven years, says that the club “has moved up in division status, membership is on the rise, and there have been better style of play and knowledge” during his tenure at Stony Brook.

In order to continue their development, the Seawolves have set specific goals for the near future. Assistant Coach John Isles said that in the next 3-5 years, a promotion to Division 1 is one of their priorities, which can happen even with tough competition in the coming years. However, the team will have to make the Division 2 regional playoffs first, a goal they have set for 2010. The step after that would be a national playoff appearance. 

Galaris has high expectations for his team, saying one day he wants the team to develop into a “perennial powerhouse.”

Off the field, Galaris wants to recruit more underclassman to increase the team’s youth while promoting the sport of rugby overall, an objective that he called one of the most important. 

According to Galaris, it is still unknown who will lead the team this year. Although there are a number of veterans on the team, the most valuable players will be determined from hard work in practice and throughout the course of the season.

Players to watch out for are senior Erin O’Sullivan and sophomores Katherine Foran and Alexandra Slavin, all of whom Galaris thinks have a good shot at leading the team. Galaris said he is looking forward to seeing which of his players can step up and lead the club both on and off the field, even if it’s an underclassman. 

With experienced personnel and strong coaching, the Seawolves look forward to jumping off to a good start in their home opener against Rutgers on September 19. The players, including junior flanker Allison Baldowski, feel optimistic. “We have a tough fall schedule,” she said. ”But our team has a lot of hard workers so we will definitely be a force to be reckoned with.”